Hart Levine, who helps foster grassroots Jewish experiences on campuses through The Heart 2 Heart Project, explains an interpretation of Ki Teitzei that talks about reconnecting to wayward members of your flock, not of livestock, but of your Jewish community. Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myNCSYAlumni Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncsyalumni Find out more about H2H at http://theheart2heartproject.org
Just three years ago, as a senior at James Madison High School in Brooklyn, Alex began his journey toward Judaism with a slice of kosher pizza in his Jewish Student Union club, a program of NCSY for public high school students. Nechama Kamelhar, New York NCSY’s South District director, ran the club and immediately noticed Alex’s genuine interest in Jewish rituals. “I saw that his curiosity was sparked,” said Nechama. “His thoughtful questions intrigued and fascinated others.
We all find ourselves enjoying the status quo. We may not want to call it complacency, we may not look at ourselves as unwilling to move, to do, but if we are honest with ourselves, we are often enjoying the what is, and not thinking or considering what can be. Too many of us feel a bit too complacent about the world around us and start to think this is what it’s supposed to be. Well, this is a wake up call for all of us. Hashem is calling from the pages of Noachs life: Tzei min ha teiva! Get out and make a difference in the world around you!
Before Yom Kippur we reflect on the ones we lost. We share in the great sadness of the news of the passing of Lauren Anton, A"H of of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mrs. Anton was the Regional President of Long Island NCSY from 1980-1981 and impacted countless lives. Memories from NCSY, Jewish Experience Madison, Torah Academy of
Labor Day. Baseball and making it in the majors, one step at a time.
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan is beginning his 10th year as the JLIC Rabbi in the Hillel at UCLA. His involvement with the OU dates back decades as he was active in NCSY, attended NCSY Kollel, served on Regional Board in NJ and was the chapter advisor of Allentown PA. He met his wife, Sharona, in NCSY where she was chapter president and chapter advisor of NCSY in Teaneck. Together with their four children they are honored to continue working for the OU in Los Angeles teaching, mentoring, programming and creating memorable Shabbat and holiday experiences.
“And to the judge, who will be in those days” — Shoftim, Judges, 16:9 What’s the underlying meaning of this phrasing? Rabbi Marchuck, alumnus of NCSY Long Island and director of NCSY Alumni Connections shares two stories that have to do with judgements in Jewish law.
Charlie Harary explains, “We mistakenly associate humility with being passive or incapable. In fact, the English word humility stems from the Latin word humilitas, which means “grounded,” “from the earth,” or “low.” However, according to Jewish thought, humility is not meekness. A humble person can be strong, assertive and proactive. Humility is not downplaying our strengths. Humility is appreciating our G-d given talents and focusing them on the needs of others.”
By: Sabrina Sandler Like the true NCSYer I am, let me just start off by saying this is the Best. Internship. Ever. This is a major change from my last two summers that I spent in Israel on TJJ and TJJ Ambassadors. Again, there’s no other place I’d rather be than NCSY, but this time
With Tisha B'av having fallen out so early, it leaves us with six weeks until school starts. Which gives us weeks of carefree summer fun without the specter of Tisha B'av and the three weeks to ruin our plans. Normally these weeks are swallowed up by the frenzy of back to school activity, everyone returning from summer plans, buying back to school supplies, and spending a little bit of time preparing for the Yamim Noraim before they hit. But this year, we won't even be able to warm our desk chairs before we will be dipping our apples in honey.